anna knits - cable slouch hat update 2

I waited a little while to post this one because it was a gift, but it is all good now!

I started this hat on Super Bowl Sunday and was able to finish it on an unexpected snow day the Wednesday after. The pattern is called Quick Cable Slouch Hat, and it is available for free from Azure Knits. I used Bernat Alpaca yarn in stone, which I picked up a Michaels, with size US8 and US11 needles. The pattern was easy to follow, and - as the author notes - would make a great project for first time cablers. Just to note though, it is definitely more of a slouch hat than a beret, despite the look of my picture on the right!

anna knits - cable slouch hat update 1

I am not the biggest sports fan, but I do enjoy watching sports on TV while I knit. Anything amazing is going to be replayed many times, so you don't have to worry about keeping your head down for a minute to focus on a complicated cable or color change. For yesterday's Super Bowl, I decided to take a break from making knit headbands, and cast on a cable slouch hat I found on Ravelry from Azure Knits. It is a really fun and quick pattern, and only takes one ball of yarn (yay for using those impulse buys). I hope to finish it up this week!

Did you knit during the Super Bowl this year?

top braided headband pattern

I have spent my holiday vacation making a bunch of new knit headbands. They are fun, quick, and a great way to practice cabling. As an end of the year treat, I am sharing my pattern for a top braid headband. The wide band in the back keeps your ears nice and warm, while the cute braid in the front pulls the band out of your eyes. I use a super bulky 50% wool, 50% acrylic yarn. (All wool would be too scratchy.)

If you don't feel like knitting your own, you can purchase one knit by yours truly from my Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/annaknitsetc!

See pictures of me sporting this headband in spearmint here, here, and here. See me in DC wearing a charcoal version here.

~Top Braided Headband Pattern ~

Yarn: Super Bulky, I used Loops & Threads Cozy Wool
Needles: US15
K=knit
P=purl

Cast on 12 stitches
Rounds 1-16: Knit stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl the next, repeat) starting with a knit row and ending with a purl row (or until you reach about 5 1/2 inches).
Round 17 (or however many rows you needed to reach 5 1/2 inches): Slip 4 stitches to cable needle or double pointed needle and hold in the back, K4 from the left hand needle, K4 from the cable needle or double pointed needle, K4.
Round 18: P
Round 19: K
Round 20: P
Round 21: K4, Slip 4 stitches to cable needle or double pointed needle and hold in the front, K4 from the left hand needle, K4 from the cable needle or double pointed needle.
Round 22: P
Round 23: K
Round 24: P
Repeat rounds 17-24. 32 rounds complete.
Repeat rounds 17-21. 37 rounds complete. 
Rounds 38-end: Knit stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl the next, repeat) starting with a purl row until the headband fits tightly around your head (about 14 rows). Remember, the headband will stretch slightly when blocked.
Bind off leaving a tail long enough to sew the back seam.  

Block using your preferred method.

Using mattress stitch, or your preferred method, attach the two ends of the headband together.

Go outside and test your Top Braided Headband! 

See the Ravelry posting here. 

anna knits - cable knit headband pattern

I finished my cable knit headband a few weeks ago, and I am now getting around to posting the pattern. It is a quick knit, and a great way to practice cables. See my progress here and my inspiration here. Enjoy!

~ Cable Knit Headband Pattern ~

I used 2 strands of Rowan Pure Wool 4 ply yarn in Toffee (453) together on a size US8 needle, but you could also use a single stand of worsened weight yarn, or even a thicker yarn for a chunkier headband.

Cast on 18 stitches

Round 1: K6, P6, K6

Round 2: P6, K6, P6

Round 3: K6, P6, K6

Round 4: P6, K6, P6

Round 5: K6, P6, K6 

Round 6: P6, K6, P6

Round 7: K6, P6, K6

Round 8: P6, slip 3 stitches to cable needle or double pointed needle and hold in the back, K3 from the left hand needle, K3 held in back from the cable needle or double pointed needle, P6

Repeat rounds 1-8 until your headband is long enough - you can test it around your head, but know that it will stretch out after it is blocked. My headband took 13 rounds.

Blocking will help to flatten out your headband, although I like a little curl to the edges. 

After blocking, attach the ends with mattress stitch. 

See the Ravelry posting here.

anna knits - braided knit headband

Last week a reader reached out to me to commission a braided knit headband (thanks Jessica!). I made a few braided headbands last winter, but this was my first of this season. I used two strands of Ella Rae Classic in Silver Heather (104) held together on size US15 needles with this pattern from the blog LuluKnits. I completed ten rounds of the pattern to get the right length - including the 1/2 inch that came when I blocked the headband. Blocking really helped to flatten it as well. 

I hope it helps to keep Jessica warm this winter!

If you have an idea for a custom order, don't hesitate to email me: annaknitsetc@gmail.com

anna knits - cable knit headband update 1

I have to admit I have been very busy this month - and it is only November 5th! - but I wanted to give a sneak peek into my current knitting project: a cable knit headband. It is based off of this french headband I originally saw on the blog you are my fave. I have not knit cables in a while, but it has been fun getting back into it. More to come!

PS: Do you like my doggy knitting needles? They were a gift!

knitting etc. - cable knit headband

I first saw this cable knit headband on the blog you are my fave.

It came as part of a monthly subscription called My Little Box, which sends boxes full of goodies. The subscription is currently only available in France and Belgium, but if you are not in those areas, you should check out the affiliated website, My Little Paris. 

I love the simplicity of this cable knit headband. I hope to make something similar with this really soft Rowan Pure Wool 4 ply yarn I have in "toffee." 

The yarn says to use a US size 3 needle, but I might go with something bigger to achieve the relaxed look of the headband in the picture.

Check out the braided cable knit headbands I made a few weeks ago here and here. 

anna knits - braided headband update 2

I finished my braided headband!

Used this pattern, knitting the headband until it fit around my head tightly and then joining it with mattress stitch. 

Next time I'd like to make one that is really bulky. It is so cold her in Boston, I'll need it!

anna knits - braided headband update 1

I started the braided headband pattern from LuluKnits I blogged about last night.

I'm using Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Bulky yarn in wild oak, because it is what I had on hand. I'm not sure about the color, but I love the braided cable. I'd like to try it with an even bulkier yarn next time. 

It knits up pretty fast, so hopefully I can finish this before the weekend!  

knitting, etc. - braided headband

I've been wanting to try a knit headband for a while. (I blogged about it here.) I've also wanted to try the braided knit pattern. So when my sister sent me this Braided Knit Headband from LuluKnits I decided to make it my next project.

The pattern calls for pulling from 2 balls of yarn for size 8 needles, or using bulky yarn. Not sure if I have enough worsted weight yarn in my basket to make 2 balls of the same color, but if so I will start it tonight! 

See how my braided headband turned out here. 

anna knits - boot topper update 2

I finished my boot topper project today:

I used Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Bulky Yarn in Deep Charcoal which I ordered from Jimmy Beans Wool. It took 1 skein exactly. 

I would model them with boots, but I don't have any that work with boot toppers - I am going to give these away as a gift. You can get an idea of how they will look from this picture via the pattern's creator Addiesma Designs.

I am happy with how they turned out - I hadn't knit cables in years so that was fun - but if I knit this project again I will use a yarn that is a little crisper so the cables are easier to see.

knitting, etc. - fall knitting

Now that September is here I'm starting to think about fall knitting. I love this sweater I saw on Pinterest. The color is really great for fall, and the pattern is gorgeous.

Here is another beautiful sweater from Berroco design studio:

Cables are something I want to practice this fall. I think my first cable-y project will be this boot topper I blogged about a few weeks ago.